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Coconut oil toothpaste has numerous benefits, when compared with its commercial counter-parts, as the other toothpastes are full of dangerous chemicals. Furthermore, coconut oil helps to fight cavities and prevent tooth decay. So, let’s compare the two to make it easy for you to understand.

Be safe first
Commercial toothpaste brands contain a chemical called triclosan. This chemical interferes with proper endocrine function and is responsible in promoting antibiotic resistance. Do you know a disturbed endocrine system might lead to babies with low birth-weight and testicular, breast, prostate and ovarian cancer and precocious puberty in girls. Other brands also contain fluoride, another hazardous chemical, which is a toxic industrial waste product and is a key ingredient in many commercial toothpastes.
Also some brands use foaming agents such as sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES), sodium laureth sulfate (SLS), or sodium laurel sulfate. Although, your toothpaste will be sudsy and nice, but these chemicals break up the phospholipids on your tongue and impair proper functioning of your taste buds. These chemicals have also been associated with cancer sores. While, on the other hand, natural coconut oil balances the lipids on your tongue.

Major protection
According to a study carried in the Athlone Institute of Technology, olive, vegetable and coconut oil in their natural states and after being treated with enzymes were used to check out their effectiveness against strains caused by Streptococcus bacteria, (a tooth decay causing mouth bacterium). The study authors concluded that the coconut oil which was enzyme-modified suppressed the bacteria strain caused by Streptococcus mutans, which later progressed into causing tooth decay. The authors added that the enzymes help to break down the coconut oil and convert it into acids, that are toxic to these bacteria.
Dr. Damien Brady, a chief researcher, announced that incorporation of enzyme-modified coconut oil into hygiene products would be an alternative to the chemical additives, as it is able to work at low concentrations. He also added that with the increased antibiotic resistance, it has become important to put our attention on other ways of combating microbial infection.
According to another study published in 2014, in the Journal of Indian Society of Periodontology, it has been proved that massaging your gums with coconut oil for 10 minutes daily for about three weeks, majorly reduced plaque as well as Streptococcus mutans strain of bacteria.